Carlos Alcaraz’s US Open marketing campaign hit its first velocity bump Saturday in New York, however the Spaniard’s title defence nonetheless continues apace.
Confronted with a seeded opponent for the primary time this fortnight, the Spaniard moved previous Daniel Evans 6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 to guide his spot within the fourth spherical at Flushing Meadows for the third straight 12 months. Alcaraz wanted to supply a high-class show to beat Evans and his trademark field of methods, however the Spaniard’s consistency and energy was key as he held agency for a three-hour, 10-minute triumph.
“He’s a difficult opponent. He at all times needs to go to the online. Nice slices, good contact,” mentioned Alcaraz of Evans in his on-court interview. “I believe that is my sport as effectively, so we performed a reasonably good match. I believe the individuals liked that. We made nice factors, nice photographs, a whole lot of totally different conditions in all probability than in different matches. I’m actually blissful to get by and play the fourth spherical once more within the US Open.”
Alcaraz and Evans produced a number of thrilling all-court exchanges to open the day’s play on Arthur Ashe Stadium in fashion. The Twenty sixth-seeded Evans dug deep within the third set to grow to be the primary participant to take a set from Alcaraz this fortnight, however the World No. 1 was in the end too constant for the Briton. Alcaraz struck 60 winners to Evans’ 28 to enhance to 3-0 within the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head collection.
Maybe the second of a richly entertaining encounter was Alcaraz’s chic forehand cross on the useless run to crucially break Evans for 4-2 within the fourth set. The Briton had performed an virtually good level, pulling the 20-year-old facet to facet, however was left staring in disbelief because the Spaniard charged out broad to fireside a down-the-line end that clipped the again of the baseline.
“We performed nice factors that made us smile,” mentioned Alcaraz. “Daniel as effectively. It’s nice to see that on a tennis courtroom. Clearly, we play to make the individuals blissful as effectively, to entertain them and attempt to make the match enjoyable. It’s nice to have that type of level as effectively and really feel the power that [the crowd] are having fun with it as effectively.”
GOODNESS GRACIOUS ME 🤯🤯🤯@carlosalcaraz | @usopen | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/EsnKCaAOMU
— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 2, 2023
The 20-year-old Alcaraz’s subsequent problem as he chases his third Grand Slam crown is a conflict towards Matteo Arnaldi. It will likely be a primary assembly between the 2022 Subsequent Gen ATP Finals competitor Arnaldi and Alcaraz, who’s attempting to grow to be the primary participant to defend the lads’s singles crown on the US Open since Roger Federer in 2008.
“Clearly I focus day-to-day,” mentioned Alcaraz. “Defending the title here’s a aim for me. I do know that no one has defended the title since Roger Federer, so I’d like to be a part of event historical past with Roger. That is my fundamental aim proper now and I’m on the lookout for that.”
Arnaldi earlier booked his fourth-round spot on his main-draw debut in New York by upsetting sixteenth seed Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-4, 6-3. The 22-year-old was medical along with his probabilities in his first Lexus ATP Head2Head conflict with Nice Britain’s Norrie, changing 5 of his six break factors on the way in which to a one-hour, 57-minute triumph.
It was one other main step ahead in a breakout 12 months for Arnaldi on the ATP Tour. He’s now 13-9 for the 12 months after reaching the final 16 at a serious for the primary time. The Italian solely competed in the principle draw of a Grand Slam for the primary time three months in the past, when he reached the second spherical at Roland Garros, earlier than he additionally efficiently certified for Wimbledon.
Arnaldi is up 14 spots to No. 47 within the Pepperstone ATP Reside Rankings following his win towards Norrie. He started 2023 as World No. 134.
